The Alternative Press

WANTAGE, NJ – Hundreds of Sussex County residents, and those from beyond, poured onto the grounds of Green Valley Farms on Saturday afternoon, for the second annual professional rodeo event hosted at the farm.

The atmosphere was festive at the farm, as rodeo attendees, and participants, enjoyed the nearly 70-degree temperatures, sunshine, gentle breeze, foliage, and the overall atmosphere of the 250-acre farm, which is nestled into the valley, surrounded by the rolling, and currently autumnal-painted hills.

The rodeo was broken into bareback saddle bronco riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, lil’ buckaroo rodeo, barrel racing, team roping, and bull riding.

Several Sussex County residents from Augusta, Newton, Stillwater, Vernon, and Wantage participated.

The magical question emblazoned onto the backs of the event souvenir t-shirts was, “’Got Rodeo?’”

In addition to the rodeo, visitors could partake in food from Green Valley Farms, such as their all natural beef brisket, burgers, and cheeseburgers. Their Fall Harvest Festival took place as well, where adults and children alike could navigate through the corn maze, and pick their own pumpkins. Other activities included: rides on the mechanical bull, pony rides, and time in the kids’ fun barn.

Duce Tallamy, owner of Green Valley Farms, said about hosting the rodeo, “It’s just a dream we have had for a long time, to bring around here.”

Tallamy said rodeo participants come to the event from as far away as Oregon.

“We’ve been around the rodeo for our whole life, it’s an awesome day,” said Tallamy.

Jo Ann Kircher is a local resident who divides her time between Wall Township, N.J., and Wantage. Kircher described herself as a “horse lover, and rodeo lover.”

“It’s beautiful weather, beautiful people, beautiful horses, and beautiful cowboys,” said Kircher. “I’m enjoying it.”

Donna Visco was one of the rodeo participants. While not partaking in rodeos, Visco is a manicurist, and pedicurist at The Village Mane Salon & Day Spa in Olde Lafayette Village, Lafayette, N.J.

“I’ve been involved since I was 12,” Visco said.

Visco was originally from Woodland Park, N.J., and her affinity for rodeos came from her parents, who were very involved as well. She moved to Sussex County 24 years ago.

“I’ve been dragging my babies up and down the circuit,” said Visco, whose children are now grown.

One of her sons is in college in Oklahoma, where he ended up in school on a rodeo scholarship. Her husband, James, who will be retiring from the New Jersey State Police in only a few days, wrestles steer, she said.

“I have two really good horses,” Visco said, including “Blue,” who she added is ready to retire, and, “Taz,” an up-and-coming painted horse, who she rode at Saturday’s rodeo.

Visco sported pink, and a top sparkled with pink accents, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness. She said any prize monies she might receive from the event, she will donate to the cause.

Of having the rodeo in Sussex County, after making treks from Maine, to West Virginia, and everywhere in between, Visco said, “It’s so fantastic that we can have something so wonderful for the town. They want it [the rodeo] to be nice for all attending [including participants]. It’s nice to have something three miles from home.”

Magarino Ford was the event’s Premier Sponsor. Other event sponsors included: Tri-State Rentals, Inc., Route 23 Patio & Mason Center, Tire King, Ace Well & Pump LLC, Lorenzo’s of Sussex, LLC., Riviera Maya, Fireman Dans, East Coast Alternative Energy, LLC., Winters Auto Parts Inc., Century Masonry & Waterproofing, LLC., Waste Management, SeptiCare, The New Malibu Dude Ranch, Wantage Excavating Co., Inc., Tractor Supply Co., Rosselli Roofing & Siding, LLC., Sussex Bank, Gebco Construction, Orr’s Clothing, Sasse Glass, Garden State Koi & Aquatic Center, Legacy Pole Building, Set-n-Ston Tile & Flooring, Lafayette Motors, McCullough Tree Experts, Co., Beemerville Orchard, Olde Electric, LLC., Kel-Mar Fiberglass Pools, Double S Diner, Sussex County Lock & Safe, Inc., Cerbo’s Parsippany, The Hudson River Tractor Company LLC, Shear Intensity, LLC, The Branchville Agency, Children’s Quality Consignments, High Point Utilities, G&G Diesel Service, Inc., Green Valley Landscape Ent., LLC., Chocolate Parfait, Lawlor’s Music Emporium, LoHo Living, EveryThing HomeMade, Cigar Room, Religo Designs, Felix The Cat Store, Carey Lane Accents, The Village Barkery, Music In Motion Studio, Colleen, K-Nine Coaching, Re/Max Diamond Properties (Joseph Morreale), MCB Screen Printing & Embroidery, Thomas Brothers Western Outfitters, Weber’s Welding, Paul Congelosi Trailer Sales, R. Aukema Excavating, LLC., R. Poust, Inc., Cooper Electric Supply Co., Your “Other Closet, Bagel Station, George’s Win & Spirits Gallery, Saddle Up at Legends Riding Stable, Amy’s Animals, Clove Brook Market, Tr-State Flagpole Maintenance, Smokehouse BBQ & Ice Cream Bar, Trigger Point Massage, Arbonne Independent Consultant (Mary Eileen Schoen), Country Chimney Sweeps & Masons, The Hampton Diner, Crete Concrete Construction, Pleasant Acres Farm, The Summit Group, Hamburg Pediatric Center, Crop Production Services, Natural Trim Hoof Care, Massage By Mary, Breathless Beauty, Farmside Supplie, Inc., Transitions Lifestyle System, Lafayette Hilltop Chiropractic, Waggin’ Tails Pet Supply, Thee Hair Lounge, L.L.C., C & C Growers, and Holland American Bakery.

Bareback Riding participants were: Jim Elchak of Monroeton, Pa., and Casey Maddox of Wichita Falls, Texas.

For the Saddle Bronco Riding, Maddox participated again, along with Justin Rhodes.

Bull Riding included: Chris Tejero from Hamilton, N.J., Justin McCall of Morgantown, Pa., Loren Smith of Riding High Ranch, N.Y., Leandro Santiago from Newark, N.J., Allen Holdridge from Cato, N.Y., Brendan Branning from Augusta, N.J., Robert Gregoire from Enfield, Conn., Aaron Kaene from Tylesville, Mich., Tyler Baumgarten of Wantage, N.J., Garrett Daley of Stillwater, N.J., Jose Muralles from Newport, R.I., Willam Merithew of Saugerties, N.Y., Steve Haggerty of Newton, N.J., Todd Phillips of Barton, Md., Jason Power of Franklinville, N.J., Kenney Litchfield of Nazareth, Pa., John Leinaweaver of Orrtanna, Pa., Micheal Pagani of Clifton, N.J., Ronney Nobre of Salem, N.J., and Romulu Campos of Conn.

Tie Down Roping contestants were: Tim Buckenmeyer of Alexander, N.Y., Steve Gorden of Bonanza, Ore., Fred Knowlton of Uniondale, Pa., Loren Smith of Riding High Ranch, N.Y., Troy Roberto of Haskell, N.J., Christopher Kelley from Susquehanna, Pa., Todd Feaser of York Haven, Pa., Terrty Stetron of Newville, Pa., Rob Wright from Alexander, N.Y., Dave Marino from Towaco, N.J., and Ty Miller from Newville, Pa.

The participants for Steer Wrestling included: Ed Sloat of Woodstown, N.J., Clay Harp, Jr., of Wrightstown, N.J., John Leinaweaver of Orrtanna, Pa., Ryan Whethum from Woodstown, N.J., Jimmy Visco of Wantage, N.J., Sean Silveridge-Morton of Beach Lake, Pa., Rob Wright of Alexander, N.Y., Dave Montague of Newtown, Conn., Clay Harp of Wrightstown, N.J., Jimmy Van of Equinunk, Pa., and Tim Hillriegel from Equinunk, Pa.

Team Roping contestants were: Gary DuBois of Southsbury, Conn., with Lewis Rimes of York Springs, Pa.; Ginger DuBois of Southbury, Conn., with Sam Swearingen of Piffard, N.Y.; Lewis Rimes of York Springs, Pa., and Mike Charles from Schuylkill Haven, Pa.; Tim Buckenmeyer and Rob Wright, both of Alexander, N.Y.; Leroy McAdams of Reeders, Pa., with David Brewer of Nazareth, Pa.; Clay Harp of Wrightstown, Pa., with Ed Sloat of Woodstown, N.J.; Greg Maddox of Hagerstown, Md. And Todd Feaser from York Haven, Pa.; Bob Conroy of Brookside, N.J., with Raul Perez of Union City, N.J.; Doug Hutton of Blankester, Pa., and Todd Feaser of Yorkhaven, Pa., Gary DuBois of Southbury, Conn., and Mike Charles of Schuykill Haven, Pa.; Eric Fisher from Jackson, N.J., with Clay Harp of Wrightstown, N.J.; Trent Miller with Ty Miller; and, Ryan Weston with Ty Miller.

Contestants for the Ladies’ Barrel Racing were: Lisa Barone of Ortanna, Pa., Shelly Anthony of Nararach, Pa., Mallory Perkins of Greenwich, N.Y., Linda Brewer of Nazartch, Pa., Bethann Borowy of Glen Mills, Pa., Donna Visco of Wantage, N.J., Joylynn Leech from Wantage, N.J., Lauren Reynolds of Little Falls, N.J., Jody Snyder of Weedsport, N.Y., Wilhelmina Horzepa of Millstone, N.J., Erica Friedman of Creamridge, N.J., Jamie Theiller of Vernon, N.J., Jennifer Barrett, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Alishia Shafer of Nazareth, Pa., Alyssa Beres from Saddlebrook, N.J., Jody Stockton of Ballston Spa, N.Y., and Angelina Donofrio from Millstone, N.J.

Click here for the Green Valley Farms website.